News & market updates

Colombo bourse rose for a second day as the ASPI gained 139.82 points to close at 20,753.21, with turnover at about Rs.7.4 billion boosted by several crossings. Selected Construction and Materials counters and names such as Access Engineering, Ceylon Tobacco and Cargills were among top contributors.

Colombo Stock Exchange hit a record as the ASPI rose 139.82 points to close at 20,753.21. Turnover was Rs. 7.39 billion with domestic investors accounting for Rs. 6.98 billion while foreign sales exceeded purchases.

Colombo's ASPI rose 0.68% to 20,753.21, led by gains in capital goods and diversified financials; top contributors were Access Engineering (up 2.60 to 60.50), Vallibel One (up 3.80 to 93.80), Ceylon Tobacco (up 24.25 to 1,641.75) and Royal Ceramics (up 1.40 to 46.40).

Colombo market slipped as the ASPI fell 73 points (0.36%) and the S&P SL20 declined 0.78% on Rs. 4.4bn turnover, with foreign investors net sellers of Rs. 801.2m amid profit-taking and political uncertainty following the remand of former President Wickremesinghe.

Colombo market closed up for a fifth straight session as the ASPI inched to a record 20,715.49 (up 0.69 points) on turnover of Rs. 10.5 billion. Gains in Dialog Axiata, Sunshine and Royal Ceramics helped lift the index while banking names (HNB, Sampath) dominated turnover and foreigners were net sellers (Rs. 552.6m).

Colombo Stock Exchange closed flat with the ASPI at 20,715.49 (+0.69) and market turnover of 10.52 billion rupees. Top contributors included Dialog Axiata, Sunshine, Royal Ceramics, Co-operative Insurance and Ambeon, while most banking stocks — including Commercial Bank, Sampath and HNB — closed lower.

S&P SL20 crossed 6,000 for the first time, rising 58.46 points (0.97%) to close at 6,055.92; the ASPI also hit a record 20,571.07 (up 100.55 points, 0.49%) with turnover over Rs.10.8 billion.

ASPI fell 0.64% to 19,786 after briefly crossing the 20,000 mark, with turnover of Rs.4.53bn and foreign net outflow of Rs.8.2m. Banking stocks and conglomerates weighed on the market, with JKH, MELS, NDB, AEL and BUKI among top negative contributors while DFCC and Royal Ceramics saw gains.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose after US President Trump cut tariffs on Sri Lanka exports to 20%; ASPI gained 1.29% and S&P SL20 rose 2.24%. Exporters saw active trading: Dipped Products (DIPD) and Hayleys (HAYL) gained while Royal Ceramics (RCL) fell.

Colombo Stock Exchange sustained an upward trend as the ASPI rose 0.07% and turnover climbed to Rs. 7.59 billion. The banking sector contributed 38% of turnover, while gains in ACL, Melstacorp, Hayleys and Central Finance and active trading in Sierra Cables and Access Engineering underpinned the session; John Keells weakened.

Colombo market opened higher as the ASPI rose 0.26% (50 points) to close at 19,518, with turnover around Rs. 6.16 billion. Foreign investors were net buyers (Rs. 30.2m) and gains were led by Royal Ceramics, Melstacorp, Hemas, L B Finance and C T Holdings, with Capital Goods, Banking and Diversified Financials driving turnover.

Colombo's ASPI rose 0.26% (50.15 pts) to 19,517.86, led by gains in capital goods stocks including Royal Ceramics (RCL.N0000), Melstacorp (MELS.N0000), Hemas (HHL.N0000), L B Finance (LFIN.N0000) and C T Holdings (CTHR.N0000). Turnover increased to 6.1 billion rupees.

Browns Investments sold 39.3 million Hatton National Bank non-voting (X) shares for Rs.10.78 bn, pushing Colombo Stock Exchange turnover to about Rs.17 bn. Profit-taking left the ASPI down 61 points at 18,885, with the banking sector accounting for 76% of turnover.

Colombo ASPI fell 0.32% to 18,884 on profit-taking while turnover rose to 17 billion rupees, boosted by a crossing in Hatton National Bank non-voting shares. HNB shares declined (non-voting to 286.50), and John Keells, Hayleys, Central Finance, Melstacorp and Royal Ceramics also traded lower.

Dhammika Perera acquired a 77% stake in East West Properties for about Rs.3.2bn (off‑board at Rs.30.20), lifting EAST to Rs.31.80 as crossings drove turnover to Rs.8.88bn; ASPI fell 10 points. Banking names (Sampath, Commercial Bank, HNB) and diversified stocks also saw heavy activity while foreigners were net sellers of Rs.561mn.

Markets fell as Sri Lanka awaited a US tariff letter: ASPI down 0.06% to 18,032 and S&P SL20 down 0.34% to 5,321. Stocks weighed down included John Keells, C T Holdings, HNB, Royal Ceramics and Ceylon Tobacco; exporters Haycarb, Hayleys Fabric and Teejay Lanka slid while Dipped Products rose.

Royal Ceramics Lanka (Rocell) held an Installer’s Club appreciation event, distributing over Rs.4,000,000 in gifts including a Rs.1,000,000 top prize. Rocell also launched a financing facility with Singer Finance allowing tilers to buy Bosch equipment at nominal rates with Rocell covering Rs.50,000.

Royal Ceramics Lanka (Rocell) honoured top members of its Installer’s Club in Colombo, distributing over Rs.4,000,000 in gifts including a Rs.1,000,000 top prize. Rocell also launched a Singer Finance facility enabling tilers to buy Bosch tools with Rocell covering Rs.50,000.

ASPI rose 0.9% to lift its YTD return to 10.74% as turnover reached Rs.5.68 billion led by LVEF (Rs.500m), RCL (Rs.304m) and TILE (Rs.269m), with banking and capital‑goods/construction counters among the session’s key drivers.

The Cabinet approved a Rs.100 million allocation to support industrial and entrepreneurial initiatives, including working capital for the ceramics sector, textile support, an export exhibition and cargo security upgrades; Rs.25m will be government-funded with remainder from private sector.

The SEC suspended three stock brokers for three years for alleged securities law violations, including front-running trades in Browns Investments (BIL.N0000) and Royal Ceramics Lanka (RCL.N0000).

ASPI rose 138 points (0.8%) to 17,353 as the CSE extended its rally on turnover of Rs.7.37bn, led by heavy trading in CDB and CFIN; notable price gains were seen in CDB, CFIN, CTC, HHL, CIC and SUN, while SPEN topped net foreign buying and PKME topped net foreign selling.

Dividend · Rs 0.60 · XD Jul 1, 2025

Final dividend of LKR 0.6/share; XD 2025-07-01; record 2025-07-01; payable 2025-07-21; FY ended 31st March 2025

Colombo market ended the session marginally down with the ASPI falling 10 points to 15,916 while both ASPI and S&P SL20 gained 0.4% for the week; turnover was about Rs.1.5–1.54 billion and Materials led activity. Ceylon Grain Elevators (GRAN) rose 6.06% and HNB gained, while HHL, TJL, SPEN and RCL pressured the index; ACME closed flat.

Lanka Tiles PLC appointed Haresh Somashantha as an Executive Director. He currently serves as Director Finance of Royal Ceramics Lanka PLC and is also a director of Hayleys Fabric PLC and Vallibel Power Erathna PLC.

Colombo Bourse closed the week higher, with the ASPI up ~2% and finishing at 15,742 after a 126-point gain on Friday. Market gains were led by LOLC, RCL, NDB, SUN and MELS, with Friday turnover at Rs.2.4bn (Capital Goods, Food & Beverage and Diversified Financials leading) while foreigners were net sellers (Rs.103.6m).

Colombo stocks rose 0.81% as exporters rallied on expectations of a US–Sri Lanka trade deal, with the ASPI closing at 15,742.04 (up 126.41 pts). Key contributors included Teejay Lanka, Hayleys Fabric, Haycarb, Dipped Products, LOLC and Royal Ceramics, while selected banks (Sampath, HNB, Amana) fell.

Swisstek (Ceylon) PLC disclosed that its subsidiary Swisstek Aluminium raised Rs. 807 million via a rights issue (16 for 29 at Rs.11), allotting 73,365,266 shares and raising stated capital to Rs. 1.409 billion. The subscription reduced PARQ's holding in the subsidiary to 67.987% (potentially 66.772% if remaining minorities accept) and remaining entitlements were renounced in favour of Vallibel One.